As a solo backpacker, I’ve learned a lot through my travels, but there are still areas where I’m not an expert. Luckily, there’s a whole community of seasoned travelers who can share their experiences and wisdom. Lately, I’ve noticed an exciting trend: more and more boomers are taking sabbaticals, retiring early, buying vans, and saying, “Screw it, let’s go!” as soon as the kids move out.
A growing number of my emails aren’t coming from young college students seeking advice, but from older individuals and couples—those who’ve raised families, built careers, and now want to explore the world. It’s an incredible shift. So today, I’m thrilled to share an interview with Esther and Peter, a Canadian couple traveling the world on a year-long sabbatical. They’ve kindly shared insights into everything from budgeting to handling health issues while on the road.
Meet Esther and Peter
Portals: Hi Esther! Thanks for doing this interview. Tell us a little about yourselves.
Esther: I’m an elementary school principal, and I’ve taken a self-funded year off to travel. I remarried a few years ago, and my husband Peter is my travel partner. I just celebrated my 52nd birthday at the Pyramids of Giza, and Peter recently turned 58 at a variety show in Bangkok. We’re originally from North Delta, a suburb of Vancouver, Canada.
How Did Your Love for Travel Begin?
Esther: It started gradually. When I was a child, my parents bought me a desk with a world map on top, and I would dream about all the places I wanted to visit. When I was 13, my parents bought a timeshare, which allowed us to travel to Mexico and Hawaii—my first tropical experiences. I loved the sights, sounds, and the exotic atmosphere.
Later, as a university student, I studied languages in Freiburg, Germany, and Bordeaux, France. I traveled throughout Europe during those years, and that’s when the travel bug really bit me. I haven’t recovered since!
Where Have You Traveled?
Before this round-the-world trip, I had already been to Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, Cuba, China, and Canada. Since starting our sabbatical in August 2016, Peter and I have visited Holland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and now we’re in Thailand.
We still have three or four months left, and we’re planning to explore Southeast Asia, though we’re open to spontaneous changes. Ironically, the more we travel, the longer our list of places to visit grows!
Biggest Lesson from Your Travels
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that the world is both small and large. It’s small in the sense that it’s accessible—you can explore its far reaches—but it’s also large in terms of the abundance it holds. I believe that if we put aside politics and focused on distributing resources equitably, there would be more than enough for everyone.
Traveling with only a carry-on has taught me how little we actually need. The material world shrinks, while the experiences grow.
Top Advice for New Travelers
My number one piece of advice is to plan, plan, and plan some more—but be prepared to abandon those plans when unexpected opportunities come up. For example, we ditched part of our Eastern Europe itinerary to serve as crew on a sailboat in the Dodecanese Islands, and we splurged on a dahabiya cruise down the Nile. We have no regrets!
Another tip: document your journey. I’m not typically someone who journals, but I’ve kept one while traveling. It’s amazing to look back on, even now. We also blog and share our experiences on social media, and I know these records will become treasured memories.
How Do You Travel on a Budget?
We fund our travels through three sources: my salary, Peter’s pension, and savings we set aside for this trip. We also rent out our home, which provides an additional monthly income. Thankfully, our income comes in regularly, so it’s easy to budget. We have some extra savings in case of emergencies, but we’ve managed to avoid dipping into that.
For accommodation, we often use Hotels.com, and because I write reviews, I get discounts on future stays and even a free night for every 10 nights booked. We’ve also used Airbnb occasionally. But our most enriching stays have been with Couchsurfing hosts and family members in Austria.
Top Budgeting Tips for Travelers
First, track every penny. My husband uses an app called AndroMoney to monitor our expenses, but even with his careful tracking, it’s easy to forget small things like a taxi ride or a snack. Some days we exceed our daily budget of $150 CAD, but we make up for it on other days.
Handling Health Issues on the Road
Peter had a stroke two years ago, which made us realize just how unpredictable life can be. We delayed our trip by a year while he recovered, and we adjusted our plans based on his condition. For instance, we originally wanted to drive around Iceland and visit hot springs, but his high blood pressure made that risky, so instead, we opted for a bike and barge tour in Holland.
Choosing the right travel insurance was critical, especially to cover pre-existing conditions. Peter packed a year’s worth of medication and monitors his blood pressure regularly while we travel.
We also try to maintain a healthy, mostly vegetarian diet, though it’s been challenging in some countries.
Medical Care While Traveling
Yes, we’ve needed medical care on the road. I caught a nasty cold in Sri Lanka and visited a hospital, which cost only $25 USD, including medication. I also had a doctor visit our hotel in India for vertigo, which was caused by a water buildup in my ear. That house call, including medication, cost just $23 USD.
Peter’s medical needs are more complicated, so we packed six months’ worth of medication through the Canadian medical system. We had to pay out of pocket for the other six months, though we later learned we could have bought it more cheaply abroad.
Making Connections with Fellow Travelers
We’ve found that older travelers tend to stick to group tours, so it’s been harder to make friends our age while traveling independently. However, Couchsurfing has been a fantastic way to meet people of all ages. We’ve made lasting friendships with people we’ve met through the platform.
Is Couchsurfing Just for Young People?
Absolutely not! Age isn’t an issue if you approach Couchsurfing with the mindset that it should be mutually beneficial. In fact, I think older Couchsurfers may have an advantage, as younger travelers often see it as just a free place to stay.
One Mistake You’ve Made on the Road
We were recently robbed by a cab driver. Normally, we split our money and hide some of it in secret places, but that day, we were tired and had just come from the bank. The driver snatched around 3,000,000 Vietnamese dong (about $180 USD) from Peter’s wallet. We quickly exited the cab and were grateful to walk away without more significant losses. It was a hard lesson in always being cautious.
Final Advice for Boomers Looking to Travel
GO NOW! Don’t wait for the “perfect time,” because there will always be something holding you back—whether it’s the economy, your kids, or your health. The truth is, independent travel doesn’t get easier with age. It’s okay to focus on yourself and finally make those travel dreams come true.
Become the Next Travel Success Story
One of my favorite parts of my work is hearing about the travel journeys of others. These stories inspire me, but more importantly, they can inspire you. There are many ways to fund and enjoy travel, and I hope Esther and Peter’s story proves that adventure is within your grasp, no matter your age.
